Judicial Campaigns and Elections: Michigan

Campaign Financing

Individual and political PAC contributions to supreme court and court of appeals candidates and to circuit court candidates in larger circuits are limited to $3,400 per candidate per election cycle. Individual and political PAC contributions to circuit court candidates in smaller circuits are limited to $1,000 or $500 per candidate per election cycle, based on the size of the circuit. Candidates' campaign committees are prohibited from soliciting contributions greater than $100 from lawyers.

In the 2000 elections, a total of $13 million to $15 million was spent by supreme court candidates, the Republican and Democratic Parties, and outside interest groups. The 2000 contests were the most expensive and contentious in the state's history.